EXCHANGE: Ex-recorder sees future in alpaca farm

In this Dec. 13, 2013 photo a herd of alpacas look forward to a visit from their owner, outgoing McLean County register of deeds Lee Newcom, who takes care of a small herd of alpacas on his farm near Anchor, Illinois. Newcom turned to raising alpacas after a voter referendum ended the register of deeds office. (AP Photo/The Pantagraph, David Proeber)

In this undated picture released by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a dead gray wolf, shot and killed in northwestern Illinois in 2011 by a deer hunter who said he thought it was a legally hunted coyote, is seen. The hunters said they believed the animal was a coyote, which, especially from a distance, can look similar to wolves. Wolves are usually taller and heavier than coyotes. Illinoisí own once-thriving wolves were hunted, trapped and poisoned to extinction by the 1860s. But since the first confirmed sighting in the state in more than a century in 2002, wolf sightings have gone from rare to regular _ to as many as five over the last three years. (AP Photo/Illinois Department of Natural Resources)

In this Dec. 13, 2013 photo outgoing McLean County register of deeds Lee Newcom gets a little affection from his trained herding dog as he takes care of a small herd of alpacas, on his farm near Anchor, Illinois. Newcom turned to raising alpacas after a voter referendum ended the register of deeds office. Newcom purchased the dog to protect the herd while he looks for additional work. (AP Photo/The Pantagraph, David Proeber)

In this Dec. 13, 2013 photo outgoing McLean County register of deeds Lee Newcom takes care of a small herd of alpacas, on his farm near Anchor, Illinois. Newcom turned to raising alpacas after a voter referendum ended the register of deeds office. (AP Photo/The Pantagraph, David Proeber)

ANCHOR, Ill. - (AP) On Nov. 6, 2012, after all the McLean County election results had been tabulated, Lee Newcom posted a message on his Facebook page: "I won my election but lost my job."

Newcom had been re-elected as McLean County recorder of deeds, but a referendum asking voters if the recorder's office should be eliminated also passed — 37,699 to 24,207.

Newcom asked if anyone had any ideas for a job.

The first to respond was a high school friend who owns an alpaca farm in California, suggesting he start one.

"I said that costs money and I don't know anything about alpaca farms," said Newcom.

But after a lot of research, help from his friend and a trip to the California alpaca farm, Newcom decided to try it out. A couple of weeks ago, he received his first herd of 15 alpacas — one of which he helped birth on one of the California trips. Her name is KKKKatie, after Newcom's daughter, Katie, who is a full partner in the new business venture.

"It sounds like a great business opportunity," said Katie Newcom, a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force. "I enjoy working with my dad. I'm thinking of this as a long-term investment. Eventually when I retire, I'll take over the farm."

Newcom found a 5-acre farm in rural Anchor in eastern McLean County and was able to work out a rent-to-own deal. Because six of the alpacas are pregnant, his herd soon will be growing.

Alpacas are valuable for their fiber coats that are water resistant and warmer than wool, he said. The fiber on young alpacas is used in fine clothing; the older alpaca fiber typically is used for rugs.

"It won't make money for three to five years," he said. "So I still need to find a job."